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Letter: Letter

Published 23 February 2002

From Lars Gabrielsson

Your article stated that until now no crater was known that might be
responsible for the extinctions at the end of the Devonian 360 million years
ago. However, in Sweden, 250 kilometres north-west of Stockholm, there is the
Siljan Ring—named after one of the lakes near the rim of the crater. It
dates from 360 to 370 million years ago and is about 40 kilometres across.

Although the Siljan crater is much smaller than Woodleigh, it might have
contributed to the Devonian extinctions. And the violent upheavals caused by the
impact can still to be seen along its rim, so at least the Siljan crater beats
Woodleigh from a tourist’s point of view.

Örebro, Sweden

Issue no. 2331 published 23 February 2002

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